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FOR THE RECORDS
Goodwill Message From Cap Int’l, USA
As we commemorate the 19th Ogoni Day Anniversary today when over
300,000 Ogonis came out en masse and non-violently challenged
the devastation of our environment and the denigration of our
people by Shell's reckless and racist oil extraction practices
over the years in collaboration with successive Nigerian
governments, the Council of Ogoni Professionals (COP
International, USA) commend members of the Movement for the
Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and the entire Ogoni people for
keeping the struggle alive despite monumental challenges. As we
take stock today of our losses and our travails throughout these
19 years of our struggle, we salute the courage, determination
and perseverance of our people and proudly declare that our
struggle is just and our future is bright. We therefore urge all
Ogonis to continue to fight non-violently for “there is an Ogoni
Star in the sky”.
As we join our kit and kin to celebrate today, COP
International, USA seizes this special opportunity to commend
former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the love he demonstrated
toward the Ogoni people during his tenure as Nigeria's President
by ordering the release of the remains of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8
other Ogoni activists that were murdered in cold blood on
November 10, 1995 by General Sani Abacha at the behest of Shell.
Although the release of their remains fell short of our
consistent demand that Ken Saro-Wiwa and others be exonerated,
we are grateful because the release of their remains afforded
their families and the Ogoni people the opportunity to bid them
farewell in the dignified manner that befits their sacrifices.
COP International USA also commends President Olusegun Obasanjo
for the various practical steps his administration took to try
and resolve the Ogoni crisis. Although these steps were
unsuccessful and might have had political and other undertones,
it is a fact that without these efforts, the United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP) assessment of Ogoni would not have
been possible in the first instance. The recently released UNEP
Report which details the unprecedented environmental devastation
caused by Shell's reckless oil exploration activities in
Ogoniland validates our struggle and we remain forever grateful
to former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration for
initiating the assessment.
As we take embark on a retrospective and prospective assessment
of our 19 years of struggle today, the umbrella body of all
Ogoni professionals in the United States of America sadly note
that President Goodluck Jonathan has failed to acknowledge the
immeasurable contributions of the Ogoni people to the
development of the Nigerian nation-state and this is unfair. To
buttress our claim, President Jonathan honored 50 prominent
Nigerians who have contributed to national development as apart
of activities marking Nigeria's 50th Independence Anniversary
Celebration in 2010. Amongst the honorees was his kinsman late
Isaac Adaka Boro. However, Ken Saro-Wiwa who se non-violent and
intellectual strategy gave international prominence to the
sufferings of the Ogoni and other minorities of the Niger Delta
was conspicuously omitted.
Under the watchful eyes of President Goodluck Jonathan, Justice
Ibrahim Auta whose miscarriage of justice led to the hanging of
Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni peace activists in 1995 was
promoted to the exalted position of Chief Judge of the Federal
High Court in Lagos, despite several protests against his
nomination and confirmation.
One of the cardinal demands enshrined in the Ogoni Bill of
Rights (OBR) is “adequate representation as of right in all
Nigerian national institutions”. Under previous administrations,
qualified Ogonis were given federal appointments including that
of Economic Adviser to the President. However, under the present
Goodluck Jonathan Administration, not a single Ogoni have been
considered for any federal appointment despite the fact that
Ogoni is blessed with seasoned and qualified intellectuals,
administrators, managers and technocrats.
On December 31, 2011, President Jonathan took a decisive step to
address the excesses of the Boko Haram Islamic Sect by declaring
a State of Emergency in the hotbed of these militants in some
states of the federation. Taking a cue from the decisive step
taken by the President to check the excesses of the Boko Haram
Islamic militants, COP International, USA at this umpteenth time
appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to also declare the
environmental devastation in Ogoniland which is succinctly
documented in the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
Report a national emergency and take every necessary step to
implement the recommendations of the report without any delay.
President in his remarks after the submission of the report by
the UNEP team assured that the report will be implemented
without any delay and consequently established a Ministerial
Committee on August 17, 2011 to review the report and transmit
their recommendations on how to implement the report to him
within two (2) weeks. However, it is sad to note that almost 5
months after the committee was set-up, the committee is yet to
meet and produce a report for the President.
Given the grave danger that the non-implementation of the UNEP
Report portends for the Ogoni people and our environment, the
Council of Ogoni Professionals, USA calls on President Jonathan
to implement the UNEP Report without any delay, at least as a
respect for Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni martyrs whose ultimate
sacrifices paved the way for him to become President of Nigeria
today.
Signed:
Comrade Barima Victor Wifa
(Coordinator)
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